Lucrezia Borgia in Concert

A ruthless woman with a secret son. A jealous husband bent on vengeance.

A young orphan, whose loyalty will cost him his life.

It’s got poison and betrayals galore. But the best reason to see Lucrezia
Borgia in concert is to bask in the skills of an extraordinary soprano. Impossible
trills and stratospheric notes make this classic Donizetti an important conquest for
the best coloratura sopranos.

Like Joan Sutherland before her, superstar Jessica Pratt has made this music her
home. Her agile soprano rings out on stages all over the world, including the famed
boards of La Scala.

This is your chance to hear Jessica Pratt perform the title role of Lucrezia
Borgia (including the infamous final aria) in concert.

Carlo Montanaro conducts a wonderful cast, including Giuseppe Gipali as Gennaro,
Michael Honeyman as Duke Alfonso and Varduhi Abrahamyan as Maffio Orsini. You can
hear the splendour of the Opera Australia Orchestra in the intimate acoustic of the
Town Hall.

Lucrezia Borgia is infamous for killing her enemies, and many suspect, her first
two husbands.

But when the young Gennaro meets a masked woman, he has no idea it is the murderess
Lucrezia. He tells her of his mother who was forced to give him up. She recognises
him as her long-lost son, but says nothing.

When Gennaro’s friends arrive, they recognise the woman that has killed many
of their friends and relatives, and tell Gennaro what she’s done. He turns from
her in disgust.

Later, he and his friends destroy the Borgia family crest.

Lucrezia demands death for the culprit, not knowing she will send her son to die.

When she discovers Gennaro among the perpetrators, Lucrezia orders the friends
to drink poisoned wine, believing she can save her son with an antidote.

But her son has his own ideas about honour, and Lucrezia might just stand to lose
the only person she’s ever loved.

Prologue

A terrace of the Grimani Palace in Venice

A feast is in progress. Gennaro, a young soldier, comes out of the party,
accompanied by his friends Orsini, Gazella, Petrucci, Vitelozzo and Liverotto. Also
with them is a mysterious figure whom they believe to be a Spanish nobleman, but who
is really Gubetta, an agent of Lucrezia Borgia. They are all to join a delegation
to Ferrara where Lucrezia and her husband, Alfonso d’Este, hold court. The
mention of her name causes a shudder amongst them, for each has some reason to fear
her. Orsini declares that he has most cause of all. When Gennaro once saved
his life in battle they swore eternal friendship, but had no sooner done so than an
old man appeared, prophesying that they would live and die together, and warning them
to shun the Borgia. The friends dismiss the story and return to the party, leaving
Gennaro, who has fallen asleep, alone.

A masked woman (Lucrezia Borgia) comes forward. Gubetta warns her that she
is in foreign territory and will have no protection should her identity be discovered. She
dismisses him and is soon so preoccupied with the sleeping Gennaro that she does not
notice Alfonso and his henchman, Rustighello, in the background. Alfonso suspects
that she is in love with Gennaro, and is pleased to learn that the young man is about
to visit Ferrara. Gennaro awakens and is overwhelmed by his attraction to Lucrezia. He
tells her that there is only one woman he loves more: his mother, whom he has never
seen. He grew up believing himself the son of a Neapolitan fisherman, until one
day a stranger gave him a horse, weapons and a letter from his mother, warning him
that he must never seek to know her identity. Lucrezia is recognised by Orsini. He
and his friends surround her, each declaring that she has been responsible for the
death of a relative. To Gennaro’s enquiries as to her identity they reply:
“It is the Borgia!”

Act I

Scene i

Ferrara

Rustighello reports that Gennaro has taken lodgings in this very square, opposite
the palace. Alfonso anticipates his revenge. Gennaro’s companions
rally on his loss of spirits since his encounter with Lucrezia, but the reaction they
provoke is more violent than they intended. Seeing the name ‘Borgia’
on the facade of the palace, he hacks away at the first letter, leaving the word ‘orgia’. Frightened
by the possible consequences of such an action, the friends disperse. Astolfo
and Rustighello appear, each in search of Gennaro, one sent by Lucrezia, the other
by Alfonso. They comment wryly that their missions, although similar, are not
identical. Rustighello, summoning his followers, through superiority of numbers forces
Astolfo to leave.

Scene ii

Alfonso’s study

When Alfonso learns that Gennaro has been apprehended, he orders Rustighello to
fetch two decanters of wine, one silver and the other gold. He warns him not
to drink from the gold decanter, as it contains the poisoned wine of the Borgias. Lucrezia
enters in a fury, demanding that Alfonso put to death whoever has dared to insult
her name. Alfonso replies that her wishes have already been anticipated, and
the prisoner is led in. Lucrezia is aghast to recognise Gennaro who confesses his
guilt. She pleads with Alfonso for mercy. When he accuses her of loving
Gennaro, she protests her innocence, and switches from pleas to threats. Alfonso
remains adamant, merely allowing her to choose whether Gennaro shall die by sword
or poison. In desperation, she chooses poison. Gennaro is brought back in
and Alfonso tells him that he has yielded to Lucrezia’s pleas to set him free. Surprised
and encouraged by such clemency, Gennaro reveals that he had once saved the life of
Alfonso’s father in battle. Alfonso feigns gratitude and offers him monetary
reward and an appointment in the forces of Ferrara. Gennaro refuses both as he
has given his allegiance to Venice. Alfonso suggests they share a parting glass
of wine, and forces Lucrezia to pour - from the silver decanter for himself and the
gold for Gennaro. Lucrezia, left alone with Gennaro, tells him he has been poisoned
and produces an antidote. Although uncertain whether or not this is further treachery,
Gennaro drinks the antidote and Lucrezia helps him escape.

ACT II

Scene i

Rustighello and his followers come to apprehend Gennaro again. They overhear
Orsini dissuading Gennaro from leaving Ferrara immediately and promising to accompany
him the following morning, after they have attended an evening banquet at the ‘Princess’
Negroni’s. The friends re-swear friendship until death. As they depart,
Rustighello restrains his followers, telling them that they now have no need to detain
Gennaro.

Scene ii

La Negroni’s banquet

The festivities are at their height when Gubetta creates a diversion. Daggers
are drawn and the banquet breaks up in confusion. As soon as the ladies have
left, Gubetta allows himself to be placated, and suggests they drink to renewed friendship. A
cupbearer brings fresh glasses. Gennaro notices that Gubetta is not drinking. Orsini
sings a drinking song which is interrupted by an offstage chorus, chanting from the
service for the dead. The lights go out, and the doors are found to be locked. Panic
turns to cold horror as Lucrezia Borgia appears — “You led me a dance,
a sad dance, in Venice: I give you a banquet in Ferrara in return.” Five
coffins await them, but Gennaro steps forward and declares that a sixth will be needed. Lucrezia
has the other five victims led away, and tries to force the antidote upon Gennaro. When
he learns that there is only enough for one, he insists that they all die together
— and Lucrezia first of all. He takes a dagger and is about to stab
her when she declares that she is his mother - and begs him to save himself. But
he prefers to die with his friends. Alfonso comes to gloat over his revenge,
but Lucrezia turns on him, declaring that Gennaro was her son.